Ontario Autumn

The deciduous forest seems more prevalent in Ontario when I visit from British Columbia. We're a province of ever greens mostly in comparison. "Mom missed the reds of maples in autumn when we moved to Winnipeg," my brother tells me underlining our unique experience of our parents. I didn't know of Mom's love of the maples of her childhood Ontario. I'm living even further west where I love the evergreen of the Douglas fir. Here in Kanata "green space" in autumn I do love the glorious red of the maple leaves. We have the yellows of willow out west but the trees and landscape are so different to me that I feel slightly askew as if I'm on a different planet. The sun is the same though. It's not like there's two great yellow orbs in the sky. But it's flat here too. I'm much more used to the contours and cordoroy of the Western mountains. The landscape is more civilized and less wilderness wild having known the touch of man en mass for so many years longer. I remember England where the parks were so manicured, trees and shrubs shaped and tailored. When my brother and I take Gilbert the dog for a walk in the woods there are actual trails and signposts like I'd see in Vancouver's Stanley Park. Admittedly there are well laid out trails in the west but they don't seem as 'worn' by human passage. I love the difference and celebrate the remarkable diversity I know this land of Canada has. Like Mom now ,I do appreciate the red of the maple. It's definitely Ontario.







































Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Costco Family Outing

My friend Warren introduced me to Costco in 1986 when I lived in Marin County. Warren is financially wise and normally well ahead of the trends. Costco had only opened in Kirkland, Washington in 1983.
Now a quarter century and more later I'm still shopping at Costco and loving it. Tom and I provisioned my sailboat, GIRI, in Costco Honolulu when we sailed 34 days back to Vancouver, using a spanish turnkey to jury rig a solution to a broken mast. All our Costco food and supplies were well appreciated when the mast fiasco slowed our progress adding another week to our ocean crossing.
When I stay at the RV park in Burnaby the nearby Costco is often visitted. I outfitted the RV there with sheets, comforters, kitchen accessories and yes I love the fresh salads, and other foods that make for quick meals. Invariably too I fill my fridge freezer with frozen pies and other microwaveables that make for an easy after work dinner. I've bought most of my casual shirts and slacks there as well and even some electronics.
No surprise my financially wise brother loves Costco too. He especially loves the photo department in Kanata Ottawa where, as a photographer, he loves to get prints made of his digital pictures.
What I haven't done at Costco is make it a family outing. In the past I was mostly going alone or with a friend like Tom or Laura. This time though it was a real family outing with my brother, sister in law, their three sons and Andrew's girlfriend, Tanya. Tanya, it turns out had heard from a co worker that she'd got an especially sweet deal on quality cutlery and wanted to check it out. Andrew and Tanya having a tastefully decorated apartment overlooking the Ottawa River are highly selective about what they add to their elegant minimalist urban chic abode. Ron wanted to pick up prints. Graeme was having the family thanksgiving dinner this year so he was searching for seating for his new town house along with food items. Adell an accomplished chef and house party hostess was assisting her son with decision making. I wanted to contribute a pumpkin pie and Alan was mostly along for the ride.
The consequence was much wandering about, lots of family conversation, losing and finding of members and finally using cell phones to arrange a departure rendezvous time and place. It was in the end alot of fun and truly an adult family outing. The last time I was here they'd got me bowling and I confess I liked that too but this Costco Family Outing event I got more alone time talking with my nephews, albeit in the sock or hardware section and my brother and I had some really good family time discussing future plans by the fresh salmon. I was also amused by Graeme's general appearance of being on a mission. I knew he was looking for party chips but he still approached the task as a serious intellectual exercise requiring concentrated effort. I wanted to get two huge pumpkin pies and a huge apple pie while Alan showed restraint. Adell and Ron decided one pumpkin pie would be sufficient as others were bringing deserts too.
Tanya never did get the cutlery which occasioned the expedition. Andrew wanted something heavier and more substantial for the hand. A half dozen of the family contributed to this discussion with unsought opinions, stories about cutlery others had liked and generally a Martha Stewart cutlery moment was had by all. Personally I enjoyed the easy manner in which the young couple respectfully considered each others opinions and tolerated the opinions of family.
Shopping at Costco then was much more than just acquisition. I'd put it right up there with bowling, that's for sure. The pumpkin pie really was terrific too. And thank you Andrew for the delicious ice cream cone.
























Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thanksgiving Dinner with Graeme

Ron and Adell's oldest son, Graeme, just moved to a new townhouse. He's an engineer "but" offered to have the family Thanksgiving dinner this year. He'd just moved in and hadn't acquired a couch. Apparently he'd never used the oven so when he did it hadn't been cleaned properly. The place filled with smoke. Despite this when guests arrived this evening the food was all prepared and there was seating enough for everyone.
Ron and I had walked the dog in the nearby park enjoying the autumn colours, taking pictures along the trail. Gilbert had a great run.
When we returned Gilbert's arrival was a real ice breaker.
Dip and chips and living room conversation was followed by a call to the table. A truly lovely spread. Adell had helped at the last minute. Velma said grace and we all settled into the turkey.
Mel and Asha, Alan's roommates are attending university with him. Very bright young women they spoke about oceans, science and matters ecolological. Graeme and Andrew reminisced about science professors sharing several anecdotes. The conversation was fine despite the distraction of the great food, turkey, yam, devilled eggs, scallop potatoes, stuffing, gravy, salad, the works. After we had fruit and apple and pumpkin pies with tea and coffee. It was the whole shebang and Graeme did well. Andrew was present but we missed Tanya. Erica had come up from the US to visit with Alan
The guests were all a delight . I was a bit glum being controversial about matters of science, reporting and funding, realizing only too late I'd been less than 'thanksgiving'. The young people did play a game of pictograph to uproarious laughter while I discussed Christianity with Velma and sister, Melvine. Velma had been reading about the history of the Tyndale Bible and shared fascinating stuff about King Henry and Anne Bolyn. Earlier Ron and I had a chance to share stories about family.
I guess I missed Dad. Dad and Mom would have loved to have seen Graeme's place and been there for the fine dinner their grandson prepared. I'm grateful I was.

























Posted using BlogPress from my iPad